YouTube credit: wbznewsradio
Read at the memorial service for Worcester's fallen firefighters
When I am called to duty, God
Where ever flames may rage,
Give me the strength to save some life
Whatever be its age.
Help me embrace a little child
Before it is to late
Or save an older person from
The horror of that fate.
Enable me to be alert and hear the weakest shout
And quickly and efficiently
To put the fire out
I want to fill my calling and
To give the best in me,
To guard my every neighbor and
Protect his property.
And if according to my fate
I am to lose my life
Please bless with your protecting hand
My children and my wife.- - "Author Unknown"
RIP Firefighters Paul Cahill and Warren Payne
Senator Kerry released the following statement on the death of Paul Cahill and Warren Payne:
"Today Massachusetts mourns the loss of two heroes who gave their lives so others could live," Senator Kerry said. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of Paul Cahill and Warren Payne. Their deaths are a painful reminder that the firefighters who do their duty day in and day out are always one alarm away from the fire that could be their last. No one should ever take for granted the service of these incredible public servants. They define courage in our country. Words cannot express our deep gratitude to them and our sadness for their loss."Teresa and I extend our prayers to the families and friends of Paul Cahill and Warren Payne and also to those firefighters injured in last night's blaze. We are here for the entire West Roxbury community, we pray for some comfort and peace to come to those affected by this tragedy, and we must all recommit ourselves to doing right by our first responders, not just today, but after the bagpipes stop wailing."
UPDATE
We'd like to recognize and thank the researchers at WPI and Senators Kerry and Kennedy and Rep. McGovern for their efforts in working to protect those who protect us. It's heartening to see researchers and the legislators who pushed for funding respond to a disaster by doing something constructive in response to the tragedy. What better way to honor the memory of fallen firefighters than to help ensure the same tragic fate does not befall those who continue to risk their lives for our safety?
The WPI Precision Personnel Locator Project was initiated in response to the Worcester fire of 1999:
February 14, 2003 - U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA), Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) and John Kerry (D-MA) today announced that they have secured $1 million for Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) for a Firefighter Locator System. This system will be used to develop a system to locate, track and monitor the physiological status of firefighters, police, EMTs and other public safety personnel during an emergency."I cannot think of a better way to honor the memory of the six Worcester firefighters who gave their lives in the line of duty in December 1999 than funding research to find new ways to guide searchers in locating firefighters in trouble," Senator Kerry said. "This funding will help discover new ways to help our firefighters do their jobs more effectively and safely."
In 2000, Kerry successfully included an amendment in the Fire Administration Authorization Act of 2000 which authorized a $1 million fire research project at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in honor of the Worcester firefighters. This legislation was signed into law by President Clinton in
November 2000.
The grant was again renewed, just a couple weeks ago, allowing the WPI to continue this important research and development.
Researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute have been working on a firefighter locator since six firefighters died in the Worcester Cold Storage and Warehouse Co. building fire in December 1999. This week, the team of faculty and student researchers working on the Precision Personnel Locator Project learned they will be awarded a nearly $1 million grant from the federal Department of Homeland Security to try to integrate the locator with a system that will monitor the firefighters’ (or other responders’) health. ...The grant drew praise from U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern, D-Worcester, and U.S. Sens. John F. Kerry, D-Mass., and Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass.
